"So this was where he was executed," Rei muttered, her gaze fixed on the towering execution platform.
Imai stared at the infamous podium, envisioning the Pirate King forced to his knees as the swords came down on his neck. The weight of history seemed to linger in the air, heavy with significance.
"It must've been rough," Imai murmured softly.
"What must've been rough?" Uta asked, her curiosity piqued.
"The blade," Imai replied, her tone contemplative. "I'm guessing they didn't cut cleanly. That kind of execution leaves a bad aftertaste—misfortune, even."
"Huh, and how would you know it wasn't clean?" Uta questioned, a note of skepticism in her voice.
"Well, it did bring misfortune for the Marines," Imai said with a laugh. "That botched execution sparked the Great Pirate Era, after all." She turned to the others. "Now then, let's get to work."
Smoker stood at a distance, his sharp eyes never leaving the cloaked figures. His frown deepened as he watched Imai leap gracefully onto the execution platform. She was unpredictable, and that made her dangerous.
"Vice Admiral, what is she planning?" Tashigi asked, her hand instinctively gripping the hilt of her sword.
"I don't know," Smoker admitted, his voice grim. "But we'll find out soon enough."
Imai glanced down from her perch, smirking when she caught sight of Smoker's furrowed brow and Tashigi's obvious curiosity. When she locked eyes with Tashigi, the younger Marine's face turned red with anger.
"Hey, Smoker!" Imai called out, her voice carrying over the murmurs of the growing crowd. "You might want to call reinforcements. This is going to get interesting!"
Smoker's instincts screamed at him to act. He nodded to Tashigi, who immediately sprinted off to summon backup. He gripped his jitte tightly, prepared for the worst.
But what happened next stunned him—and everyone else.
Imai reached into the large bag she had carried onto the platform and unveiled its contents. Gasps rippled through the crowd as golden hair spilled from the opening. Smoker's cigarette fell from his mouth, extinguished in a faint hiss as the lifeless body of Shiki the Golden Lion was revealed.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" Imai declared, her voice ringing out. "I present to you the corpse of Shiki the Golden Lion! A man of legend, once part of Roger's era and the fearsome Rocks Pirates."
Shock and horror spread through the crowd. Many recognized the infamous pirate, even decades later. Whispers broke out among the onlookers.
"I can't believe it. It's really him."
"Shiki… dead? But who could've done this?"
"It must be her!"
Imai let the murmurs continue for a moment before cutting through the noise. "A lot of you must be wondering who I am. Well, let me show you."
She pulled back her hood, revealing her unmistakable crimson eyes and dark blue hair. The crowd collectively inhaled in fear. Stories of her exploits had traveled far and wide.
"I am the one and only Fifth Emperor!" Imai declared with a grin. "But don't worry—I'm not here to harm any of you. This is a warning. To everyone who once aligned themselves with Shiki: come get your revenge! I'll be waiting!"
The bold declaration sent ripples through the crowd and beyond. Smoker turned to Tashigi, who had returned with reinforcements. "We need to stop her before this spirals out of control," he said.
Together, they leaped onto the platform, blades ready. But Imai raised her hands in mock surrender, letting Shiki's corpse fall to the wooden planks.
"Don't worry, I'm not resisting!" she said with a smirk.
Before Smoker could apprehend her, two hooded figures appeared by her side, knocking the Marines back with quick, decisive movements.
"That's our captain!" Rei shouted triumphantly.
"Let's go," Imai ordered, pulling her hood back up. She jumped from the platform, her crew following close behind as they darted through the maze-like streets of Loguetown.
Once they had escaped the commotion, the trio found a secluded alley to catch their breath. Imai leaned against a wall, laughing softly.
"Captain, why did you surrender if you could've fought them off?" Rei asked, panting.
"Because it's smarter to let the law believe they've won," Imai replied, her grin widening. "If I'd resisted, I'd officially be breaking the law here. Besides, I knew you two had my back."
Rei and Uta exchanged glances, nodding at the logic.
"Imai," Uta said, removing her hood, "you do realize you just declared war on any pirates who respected Shiki, right?"
Imai shrugged nonchalantly. "So what? It's no different from fighting the Marines. Titles don't matter—at the end of the day, they're all just people."
"Captain, I trust you, but do you really think we can win?" Rei asked hesitantly.
"Of course," Imai replied with unwavering confidence. "There's an old saying: Never pick a fight you can't win. That's why I pick fights with everyone."
Rei couldn't help but laugh, the weight in her heart lifting. She leaned back, watching her captain banter with Uta. Imai's unshakable determination was contagious.
Rei knew one thing for certain: this journey with the Empress of the Blade was only just beginning.